Unicontrol apparatus for radio receiving sets



Dec. 30, 1930. L. L. JONES UNI-CONTROL APPARATUS FOR RADIO RECEIVINGSETS Filed June 23, 1924 3 INVENTOR Lesier Ldones fjz firw ATTORNEYSPatented Dec. 30, l93

LESTER L. JONES, OF ORADELL, NEW JERSEY.

UNICONTROL APPARATUS FOR RADIO RECEIVING SETS Application filed June 23,

This invention relates to a radio receiving set, and has specialreference to the provision of an apparatus for controlling theadjustable units of a radio receiving set for tuning the a same.

A prime desideratum of my present invention comprehends the provision ofa control apparatus for radio receiving sets constructed and designedfor mechanically coupling the tuning units of the set for simultaneouslyadjusting and operating the tuning units from one control handle and formechanically uncoupling the tuning units to permit inde-' pendentadjustment and operation of the units from separate control handles.

In tuned radio receiving systems having one or more steps of radiofrequency amplification, there are provided a number of units which areindependently adjustable for tuning the cascaded circuits of the systemto a given frequency or wave length; and when a plurality of steps ofradio frequency amplification are employed, there are provided three ormore units which have to be independently adjusted by operating three ormore dials for tuningthe set. This method of tuning is disadvantageous,and for rapid and convenient tuning of the set it is highly Y desirableto simultaneously adjust and operate all the units from a single controlhandle.

In the tuned radio receiving system of my invention as disclosed andclaimed for example in my co ending application Ser. No. 716,124, fileday 27, 1924, the system is so designed and constructed that each of thetuning elements tunes in like manner practically degree for degree overthe whole wave length range, rendering possible simultaneous adjustmentof all of the units. It is desirable, however, after approximatesettings of the unit are obtained, to adjust the units independently forsensitive and accurate tuning purposes. The provision of an apparatusconstructed for mechanically coupling and uncoupling the tuning units topermit of this simultaneous and independent operation of the same is aprime object of my present invention.

When a given approximate or accurate setting of the dials has beenobtained, it is highly set showing my invention applied thereto,

1924. Serial No. 721,628.

desirable, when the mechanical coupling or uncoupling of the tuningelements is effected,

to prevent or minimize any disturbance to or modification of the settingalready obtained.

It is therefore a further principal object of my present invention toprovide a control mechanism of the nature referred to in which the unitsmay be linked and unlinked with a minimum disturbance or change of anyprevious setting obtained.

Other prime objects of the present invention include the provision of acontrol apparatus for radio receiving sets in which the means forcoupling the units together includes a frictional or flexibleconnection, the tension on which is adjusted for producing the couplingand uncoupling of the units; the further provision of a controlapparatus of this nature in which the flexible coupling means is soconnected to the units as to produce substantially balanced thrusts onthe operating shafts of the units, this to minimize any change in aprevious setting of the dial; and the further provision of a controlapparatus in which the construction permits of a great flexibility andconvenience of operation, while being of an inexpensive andcomparatively simple structural design.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as willhereinafter appear, my invention consists in the elements and theirrelation one to the other, as hereinafter more particularly describedand sought to be defined in the claims; reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, which show a preferred embodiment of myinvention, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a radio receiving Fig. 2 is a view of thecontrol apparatus taken in cross-section on the line 2-2, Fig. 1,

Fi 3 is a view showing the method of inter inking the tuning elements,and

Fig. 4 is a view showing the modified 05 method of inter-linking thetuning elements.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings, and having particularreference to Fig. 1 thereof, the control system of my present inventionis shown applied to a radio receiv- 10o or dials 18, 19 and The tuningunits 10,?

11 and 12 are merely shown herein for diagrammatic purposes, theconstructional features thereof being disclosed and claimed in my k614,404, filed Jan. 23, 1923. It will be un-' derstood that while I haveshown my control apparatus applied to the radio IGCQIY- ing setembodying the tunable elements 10,

11 and 12 of my invention, that this has been shown merely forpurposes-of illustration, and not by way of limitation, the controlapparatus of myinvention being applicable to similar radio receivingsets. I i

I To obtain the results heretofore mentioned, the control apparatus inits preferred form includes means for flexibly connecting the controlunits 10, 11 and 12,-the said flexible connecting means beingmechanically coupled to and uncoupled from the units: at will; and 'morespecifically, the preferred construction comprises a flexible connectionsuch as a cord or belt interlinking the units and means for tighteningand releasing the tension on the flexible connecting means for effectingthe coupling and uncoupling of the units. For simplicity of constructionand operation, the linking means comprises the rotative elements such asthe pulleys or belt wheels 21, 22 and 23 fixed to the operating shafts15, 16 and 17,and the flexible connect-i ing means in the form of a beltor cord 24 joining the pulleys 21, 22 and 23, the tension on theconnecting means 24 being made-adjustable for coupling and uncouplingthe ulleys by meaiis to be described presently. he pulleys 21, 22 and 23are preferably made of large diameters so that a given amount of stretchin the cord or belt 24 produces a minimum angular rotation of the tuningunits, and the cord 24 is preferably of a non-stretchable character, andpreferably consists of fish line, commercially known as Irish linencuttyhunk, which has a suitable.

been found in practice to be very forthe purpose intended;

eisgheretofore mentioned, a 'desideratum of'theinvention resides in theprovision of a control mechanism in which the coupling and uncoupling ofthe units may be obtained without introducing any disturbance ormodification of a setting of the tuning units previously obtained, andto this end the control apparatus is designed so that when the tensionon the flexible connecting means or cord 24 is varied, substantiallybalanced and neutralizing thrusts on the opcope'nding application Ser.No.

,erating shafts 15 to 17 are produced, with vleys 21 and 23, theconstruction bein suchthat the end thrusts due to the 'tensioning of thecord 24 are taken up by the supporting pulleys 2e and 26,, while theengaging thrusts on the pulleys 21 and 23 are in substantially equal andopposite directions, pre; venting any radial unbalancing of the shafts15 and.17. The flexible connecting means preferably links the pulleys21, 22 and 23 in the manner clearly shown in Figs. 2 to 4 of thedrawings, the upperbight 24a of the cord connecting the end operatingpulleys 21 and 23, and the lower bight 24b of the cord connecting theend operating pulleys 21 and 23 to the intermediate pulley 22, the cordbeing looped about the intermediate pulley producing the loop 240. hForincreasing or releasing the tension on t e vided, and in the preferredconstruction the end supporting pulley,25.is made adjustable, the saidpulley being to this end eccentrically fixed toa spindle 27 journalledin a supporting bracket'28 and in the anel 13, the said spindle beingprovided Wit 1 a control handle at its front end adjustable from thefront of the panel. With thisconstru'ction it will be obvious that,rotation of the handle 29 'release the tension to efiedt the uncouplingof the units. With thecordage system provided, it will be furthermoreseen that when the tension on the cord 24 is increased, no unbalancingthrusts will be produced on the central operating shaft 16 due to theforces thereon being in equal and opposite d irec-'f tions. a T

For purposes of taking up the normal stretch of the cord, the pulley 26may be adjustably mounted, and to this end I provide a supporting arm 30carrying the pulley 26, the said supporting arm being pivoted at 31 onone of the corner posts of the variotransformer 12 and fastenedadjustably through the slot 32 on an adjacent corner post.

. In Fig. 4, of the drawings Ishow a mod!- fied manner of interlinkingthe rotative' elements on the tuning units, loops being producedin theend operating pulleys as well as in the intermediate operating pulley,the flexible connecting means 33 having a bight cord 24, any suitablemeans may be pro-' 33a which connects the end operating pulleys togetherby means of the loops 33d and 336 produced about the pulleys and thelower bight 33b connecting the end pulleys to the intermediate pulley bymeans of the loop 330 produced in the intermediate pulley. With thisconstruction, as with the construction shown in Figs. 2 and 3, it willbe seen that when the tension on the cord is increased or tightened,there are produced approximately equal and opposing and henceneutralizing rotative forces on the intermediate unit. In theconstruction shown in Fig. 4, such adjustment of the tension on the cordwill produce equal and opposite rotation of the end units, the variationbeing thereforein opposite directions of the mean so that a minimumamount of detuning of the units is produced; While in the arrangementshown in Figs. 2 and'3, there are equal and opposing tensioning pulls onboth of the end units so that these as well as the intermediate unitremain practically stationary when the units are coupled together. i

The use and operation of the control apparatus of my invention will inthe main be fully apparent from the above detailed description thereof.It will be apparent that for obtaining an approximate setting of all theunits from one. control handle, the lever 29 is moved to increase thetension-on the cording system, and upon operation of the central dial orcontrol handle 19. all of the units will be moved in unison; and thatafter shafts will be produced, the large diameter pulleys, thenon-stretchable cord, the firm support of the end supporting pulleys andthe manner of cording the pulleys contributing towards these results.

While I have shown my invention in its preferred form, it will beapparent that many changes and modifications may be made in thestructure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention,defined in the following claims.

Iclaim: V

1. In an apparatus of the class described. a plurality of tuning units.each provided with a separatecontrol handle or dial. a fiexbleconnection means between the units for mechanically coupling the unitsfor simultaneous ad ustment and means for mechanically uncoupling theunits to permit independent adjustment by the operation of the separatecontrol handles.

2. In an apparatus of the class described,

with a separate control handle or dial, means for flexibly connectingthe units, and means for tightening and releasing the tension onsa'idfiexible connecting means formechanically coupling the units forsimultaneous adjustment and for mechanically uncoupling the units forindependent adjustment.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, a plurality of adjustableunits each provided with a rotative element and a control handle, aflexible connection means between the rotative elements for mechanicallycoupling the units for simultaneous adjustment and mechanism formechanically uncoupling the said means from the plurality of unitssimultaneously to permit independentadjustment by the operation of theseparate control handles.

at. In an apparatus of the class described, a plurality of adjustableunits each provided with an operating shaft and a control handle ordial, a pulley on each shaft, a cord or belt connecting the pulleys formechanically coupling the units for simultaneous adjustment and meansfor mechanicallyuncoupling the units to permit independent adjustment bythe operation of the separate control handles.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, a plurality of adjustableunits each provided with an operating shaft and a control handle ordial, a pulley on each shaft, a cord connecting the pulleys and meansfor tightening and loosening the tension on the cord for mechanicallycoupling the units for simultaneous adjustment by the operation of oneof the control handles and for mechanically uncoupling the units topermit independent adjustment by the operation of the separate controlhandles.

6; In an apparatus of the class described. a plurality of adjustableunits each provided with an operating shaft having a rotative elementthereon, pulley and belt means connecting said rotative elements forsimultaneous operation, and mechanism for uncoupling and coupling saidconnecting means to the rotative elements, the said means beingconnected to each rotative element-so as to pro duce substantiallybalanced thrusts on each of the operating shafts when the said means iscoupled to the rotative elements.

7. In aradio receiving system, a plurality of tuning units each providedwith an operating shaft, a pulley on each shaft. end pulleys,

a cord or belt linking the said pulleys and the end pulleys, the endpulleys acting for supporting the end thrusts of said cord, and meansfor adjusting one of the end pulleys to tighten or loosen the tension onsaid cord.

8. In a radio receivingsystem, a plurality of tuning units each providedwith an operating shaft, an operating pulley on each shaft, end pulleys,a cord or belt linking the said operatlng pulleys and the end pulleys,the end pulleys acting for supporting the end thrusts of said cord, andmeans for adjusting one of the end pulleys to increase or release thetension on said cord, the cord being connected to the operating pulleysso as to produce balanced thrusts on said operating shafts when thetension of the cord is increased.

9. In a radio receiving system, a system of three adjustable tuningunits each provided with an operating shaft having a rotative ele mentthereon, flexible connecting means linking the rotative elements forsimultaneous operation, one run of the said connecting means connectingthe end rotative elements and the opposite run thereof connecting theend to the intermediate rotative elements and looped about theintermediate element, and mechanism for couplingiand uncoupling saidconnecting means to the rotative v elements. 10. In an apparatus of theclass described,

a system ofthree adjustable units each provided with an operating shafthaving a rotative element thereon, and a flexible connecting meanslinking the rotative elements for simultaneous operation, the saidconnecting means being arranged for frictionally engaging the endrotative elements at opposite sides thereof, one run of the said meansconnecting the end rotative elements and the opposite run thereofconnecting the end to the intermediate rotative element and looped aboutthe intermediate element, supporting means for the connecting meansarranged at opposite ends of the system, and cam means- 36 for adjustingoneof said end supporting means to increase or release the tension onthe connecting means. v p 11. A unit control for a plurality of variablecircuit elements comprising a plurality 40 of individually adjustablevariable circuit elements, each provided with an operating shaft, apulley on each of said shafts and belt connecting means between saidelements, said pulley and belt connecting means being constructcd toimpart simultaneous movement to said elements and means loosening thedrive connection for permitting individual adjustment of each of saidelement.

12. A control for a plurality of variable circuit elements comprising aplurality of individually adjustable circuit elements each provided withan operating shaft, a pulley on each of said shafts and a flexible driveconnection means joining said pulleys constrlu-ted to impartsimultaneous movement of saidi-elements for a uni-control thereof, andmeans for individually adjusting each of said elements relatively tosaid drive connec tion means. Signed at New York city, in the county ofNew York and State of New York, this 21st day of June, A. D. 1924.

LESTER l3. JONES.

